Fluid-compressing apparatus



April 28, 1925.

R. SUCZEK FLUID COMPRESSING APPARATUS I Original FiledMay 8, 1920INVENTOR.

L A TTORNEY Patented Apr. 28, 1925.

UNITED ,STAT-'Es PATENr OFFICE.

ROBERT S-UCZEK, 0E MELNIK, CZECHOSLOVAKIA, ASSIGNOR TO C. H; WHEELERMANU- FACTURING COMPANY. OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A COMORATION OFPENNSYLVANIA'.

FLUiD-ooMPRE'ssING APPARATUS.

Application filed May 8, 1920, Serial No. 379,716. Renewed'March 21,1925.

To all whom t may concern: j

Be it known that I, Bonr'r SUczEK, a citizen of the United States,residing in Melnik, Czechoslovakia, have invented cer- 5 tain new anduseful Improvements in Fluid- Compressing Apparatus, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for compressing fluid in a pluralityof stages' by action thereon by an ejector employing elastic motivefluid, as steam, in one stage, the condensable fluid discharged by thefirst stage ejector being condensed, the condensate removed and theremaining fluid, as air, being acted upon in a later stage by a secondejector, the condensable component in the mixture discharged by thesecond ejector being condensed and separated from the compressed fluid.

, My invention resides in apparatus of the character referred to whereinthe condenser for the mixtures discharged from both stages is compact orunitary; both ejectors mounted upon the condenser structure; and myinvention resides further in other features of structure and combinationhereinafter described and claimed. l

For an illustration of one of the various forms my invention may take,reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, Vwhich is a verticalsectional view, partly in elevation, of ejector and condenser structureembodying my invention.

Referring to the drawing, E is ejector structure of any suitable type ornature, and in the example illustrated is a tubular ejector comprisingthe motive'fluid expanding nozzles N, the tubular diffuser D and thesuction chamber A having the suction port A1 through which enters theair or other elastic fluid to be compressed, as for example, from asteam condenser or from any other chamber or region from which the air vor other compressible fluid is to be Withdrawn. Steam or other suitablemotive duid is supplied to the nozzles N through a pipe a controlled bya Valve and deliverin 1nto the chamber c with which the nozzlescommunicate; the steam pipe i1 communicates with the boiler or othersuitable source of steam under pressure, the valve b formingcommunication between the pipe al and the pipe a. The ejector E ismounted upon the chest or box B of the condenser structure K, thel chestB being divided by the walls or partitions d, e and f into the fourchambers g, It, z' and j, vthe ejector E discharging mixture of motiveand compressed fluids into the chambery. The chambers have as a commonwall the tube sheet or plate lc held between the box B and one end ofthe shell m of the condenser structure K. The lower end of the shell mis closed by the plate or tube sheet n, which forms a wall or closurefor the lower `chest or box B1 having the partition or wall o dividingit into the chambers p and g. If suitable or desirable, there may beformed upon the chest B1 the feet or pedestals 1" 'resting upon asuitable support, not shown.

Within the shell m are the downwardly extending plates or baffles a andt, whoser lower ends are spaced from the tube sheet n;

and the upwardly extending baille or plate u whose upper end is spacedfrom the upper tube sheet la, these baffles or plates dividing theinterior of the shell m into four passesiu which are disposed fourgroups of preferably vertical tubes o. Each group comprises any suitablenumber of tubes o, only few tubes o being indicated in the drawing forthe sake of clearness. rThe tubes o are of brass or other suitablematerial secured by ferrules in the tube sheets 7c and n. The ferrulesat the upper ends of Vsome of the tubes o are elongated to form dams toprevent entry-of water or condensate; and with some of the groups oftubes are associated drain pipes w, whose upper ends are flush with theupper surface of tube sheet 7c, whereby water or condensate will drainthrough the tubes fw, these latter being provided at their lower endswith seal structures such seal structure and the dam structure beingdescribed in my co-pending application Ser. No. 317,875. v

l The first group of tubes o connects the chamber g with the chamber p;the second group connects the chamber p with the chamber it; the thirdgroup connects the chamber j with the chamber and the fourth groupconnectsthe cham er g with the chamber z'.

rlhe aforesaid first and second groups of .of a so-called aftercondenser.

tubes are those of a so-called inter -con denser' or interstagecondenser, while the aforesaid third and fourth groups are those Theseinter and after condensers are disposed within the same condenser unitor shell C;

A pipe or other suitable passage-forming member y connects the chamber hwith the suction ofthe second stage ejector E1, here indicated of thetype employing a radial flow nozzle with surrounding annular diffuser,the latter discharging the mixture of motive and compressed fluids intothe discharge'passage z, which delivers into the aforesaid chamber j,from which the mixture passes into the tubes fa of the third group,wherein the motive fluid is partially condensed, thence into thechamber. 'g and thence upwardly through the fourth group of tubes fu,where further condensation takes place, discharging into the. chamber iand thence into the pipe or conduit jl, which delivers into theatmosphere or into any suitable chamber or region at a pressure equal toatmospheric or either greater or less than atmospheric. When, forexample, the discharge is into the atmosphere or into a region atpressure higher than atmospheric, the pressure in the discharge .e fromthe second stage ejector is above atmospheric pressure, the pressure inthe passage 2 being to suitable extent higher than the pressure in thepassage jl to effect flow through the third and fourth groups of tubesand pipe y'l.

It will thus be seen that in the first and second groups of tubes thereis a relatively high degree of vacuum, .while in the third and fourthgroups the pressure is substantially atmospheric or greater thanatmospheric.

It will be noted that both the first and second stage ejectors aresecured or suppor/t-l ed directly upon the condenser unit or structure,this arrangement affording compactness and restriction of fluid pathsexternal to the condenser to suitably small length.

Communicating with the interior of the condenser shell m is the coolingwater inlet c1, the cooling water coming first into contact with thefirst group of condenser tubes, passing around the lower edge of thebaille t, upwardly in contact with the tubes of the second group, overthe upper edge of the baffle u, then downwardly in contact with thetubes of the fourth group, around the lower end of the baille s,upwardly in contact with the tubes of the third group, and passingoutward through the condensing water outlet b1.

Communicating with the chamber p is the condensate draw-off pipe al1,controlled by valve e1 and delivering to any suitable chamber or vessel.For example, it may deliver through pipe f1 to a vacuum trap whosedelivery side communicates with the hot well or condensate receptacle ofa main or large condenser from which the ejector apparatus abovedescribed withdraws air or the like. Communicating with the chamber q,is the draw-off pipe g1 controlled by a valve h1. When the chamber g isabove or near atmospheric pressure, the pipe g1 may deliver directlyinto the atmosphere or into a receptacle in which the pressure issubstantially atmospheric. v

As cooling liquid for the interstage condenser, water or any othersuitable liquid may be employed. For example, the condensate from themain condenser from which the ejector apparatus withdraws air may beintroduced at c1 as the cooling water and withdrawn at b1. Orthecoolingwater entering at o1 and leaving at b1 may be part of the cooling waterpumped by the circulating pump supplying cooling water to the maincondenser.

With substantially the same pressure of motive fluid delivered to thenozzle strifetures of the first and second stage ejectors, ofthe totalmotive fluid consumed by both stages, by preference the smaller portionis consumed in the first stage; by way of example merely, thirty percent of the total motive steam may be employed in the first stage.Furthermore, the ratio of compression of the first stage is preferablyhigher than the ratio of compression of the second stage. lVith theserelations existing, it is desirable, though my invention is not li1nitedthereto, that the extent of effective condenser or heat transfer surfacefor the first two groups of tubes, those intervening between the firstand second stage ejectors, shall or may be equal to or less than the eX-tent of condenser or heat transfer surface of the third and fourthgroups through which the second stage ejector discharges.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a plurality of ejectors, of .an interstagecondenser comprising vertical'tubes, one of said ejectors dischargingthrough said tubes, connections fromsaid tubes delivering to va secondof said ejectors uncondensed f'luid, both of said ejectors secureddirectly upon the top of and discharging downwardly into said condenser.

2. The combination with a plurality of ejectors, of condenser structurecomprising groups of vertical tubes, one of said cjectors discharginginto a plurality of said groups serially related, a connection to thesuction of the last of said ejectors, and a plurality of. sa1d groups oftubes serially related rcceiving dischar e from said last ejector.

3. The combination with a plurality of ejectors, of condenser structurecomprising groups of vertical tubes, one of said ejector-s dls'charginginto a plurality of said groups serially related, a connection to thesuction of the last of `said ejectors, of said roupsof tubes seriallyrelated receiving gischarge from said last ejector, said ejectorssupported directly on the top of said condenser structure anddischarging downwardly.

4. The combination with condenser structure comprising a plurality ofgroups of vertical condenser tubes serially connected, ofi

a plurality of ejectors mounted upon and discharging downwardly intosaid condenser structure. y

. 5. The` combination witha condenser structure, of two ejectors mountedabove and directly upon said structure, a group of verl tical condensertubes within. said structure receiving the downward discharge from o-neof said ejectors and discharging into the other of said ejectors, asecond group of vertical tubes within said structure receiving thedownward discharge from said other ejector, and 4ineans for, passingcooling me- .dium into said structure in contact with said groups oftubes.

6. In combination, condenserv structure comprising an upper chest havinga pair of chambers, a grou of vertical condenser tubes communicatingwith each 4of said chambers, a lower chest having a chambercommunicating with both ofI said groups of tubes, a second pair ofchambers 1n said upper chest, a group of vertical condenser tubescommunicating with each of said last named chambers, a second lowerchamber in said lower chest communicating with both Vfof said last namedgroups of tubes, an ejector discharging into one of said first namedupper chambers, a second ejector having its suction connected to thesecond of said first named upper chambers and delivering into one ofsaid second named upper chambers, a fluid discharge conduitcommunicating with the other of said second named upper cham; bers, anda condensate discharge conduit communicating with each of said lowerchambers. L f' 7 The combination with condenser structure comprising avertical condenser tube shell, four groups of condenser tubes in saidshell, four chambers at the upper end of said shell, two chambers at thelower end of said shell, one of said groups of condenser tubes and aplurality communicating with one of* said 'upperf chambers and one ofsaid lowei` chambers, the second of said groups of tubes communieatingwith said. one lower chamber and with a second of said upper chambers,the third of said groups of tubes communicating with the third of saidupper chambers and the second lower chamber, the fourth of said groupsof tubes communicating with said second lower chamber and with thefourth of said upper chambers, an ejector discharging into said oneupper'chamber, a second ejector having its suction connected with saidsecond upper chamber and discharging into said fourth upper chamber, afluid discharge conduit communicating with said third upper chamber, andmeans for passing cooling water through said shell.

8. The combination with an ejector, of a condenser unit comprising ashell, end chests end chests, said second ejector discharging into oneof saidlast named compartments in said one of said end chests andthrough said tubes into the other of said last named compartments, andindependent condensate draw-offs communicating, respectively, with saidcompartments in said other end chest.

9. rFhe combination with a plurality of ejectors, of condenser structurecomprising conduit structure delivering to the second stage ejector thedischarge from the first `stage ejector, separate conduit structurereceiving discharge from the second stage ejector, and lmeans foreffecting heat transfer from each ofl said conduits to cooling medium,the condensing lsurface of said second named conduit being at least asgreat as the condensing surface of said firstnamed conduit.

10. The combination with a plurality of ejectors, of condenser structurecomprising conduit structure delivering to the second stage ejector thedischarge from the first stage ejector, separate conduit structurereceiving discharge vfrom the second stage ejector, and means foreffecting heat transfer from each of said conduits to cooling medium,the condensing surface of said first named conduitbeing less than thecondensing surface of said second named conduit.

l1. The combination with a plurality of ejectors, of condenser structurecomprising conduit structure delivering to the second stage .ejector thedischarge from the first stage ejector, separate conduit structurereceiving discharge from the second stage ejector, and means foreffecting heat transfer from each of said conduits to cooling lnedium,the condensing surface of said second named conduit being at least asgreat as the condensing surface of said first named conduit, the motivefluid consumption and ratio of compression of the first stage ejectorbeing, respectively, less and greater t-han the steam consumption andratio of compression of the second stage ejector.

12. The combination with a plurality of ejectors, of condenser structurecomprising conduit structure delivering to the second stageejector thedischarge from the first stage ejector, separate conduit structurereceiving discharge ,from the second stage ejector, and means foreffecting heat transfer from each of said conduits to cooling medium,the condensing surface of said first named conduit being less than thecondensing surface of said second named conduit, the motive fluidconsumption and ratio of compression of the first ,stage ejector beingrespectively, less and greater than the steam consumption and ratio ofcompression of the second stage ejector.

13. The combination with a plurality of ejectors,g of condenserstructure comprising groups of tubes, one of said ejectors discharginginto sa-id tubes, the last of said ejectors receiving discharge fromsaid one of said ejectors and discharging into serially related groupsof tubes conducting the discharge in opposite directions, and means forextracting heat from said tubes.

14. The combination with a plurality of ,.ejectors, of condenserstructure comprising vertical tubes, one of said ejectors discharginginto said tubes, the last of said ejectors receiving discharge from saidone of said ejectors, a plurality of serially related groups of verticaltubes receiving the discharge of said last ejector and conducting it inopposite directions, and means for eX- tracting heat from said tubes.

15. rlhe combination with a pluralit of ej ectors employing condensablemotive uid, of inter and after surface condensers therefor, the coolingsurface of an after condenser being greater than the cooling surface ofan inter-condenser.

16. The combination with a plurality of ejectors operated by elasticmotive fluid, of inter and after surface condensers therefor, the nozzlestructure of an earlier stage ejector being so proportioned as toconsume less motive fluid than the nozzle structure of a later stageejector, the cooling surface of an after condenser being greater thanthe cool` ingr surface of an inter-condenser.

17. The combination with a pluralit of ejectors employing condcnsablemotive uid, of inter and after surface condensers therefor, the coolingsurface of an after condenser being greaterthan the cooling surface ofan inter-condenser, a common shell for said inter and after condensers,and means for palssing cooling medium through said shell.

18. The combination with a plurality of ejectors operated by elasticmotive fluid, of inter and after surface condensers-therefor, the nozzlestructure of an earlier stage ejector being so proportioned as toconsume less motive fluid than the nozzle structure of a later stageejector, the cooling surface of an after condenser being greater thanthe cooling surface of an inter-condenser, a common shell for said interand after condensers, and means for passing cooling medium through saidshell'.

19. The combination with a plurality of ejectors employing condensablemotive fluid, of inter and after surface condensers therefor, thecooling surface of an after condenser being greater than the coolingsurface of an inter-condenser, said inter and after condenserscomprising a.' plurality of vertical tubes through which said ejectorsdischarge, a shell common to said inter and after condensers, and meansfor passing cooling medium through said shell. l

20.The combination with a pluralit of ejectors operated by elasticmotive fluid, of inter and after surface condensers therefor, the nozzlestructure of an earlier stage ejector being so proportioned as toconsume less motive fluid than the nozzle structure of a later stageejector, the cooling surface of an after condenser being greater thanthe cooling surface of an inter-condenser, said inter and aftercondensers comprising a plurality of vertical tubes through which saidejectors discharge, a shell common to said inter and after condensers,and means for passing cooling medium through said shell.

21. Apparatus for raising uncondensable elastic fluid from a pressure4corresponding to the pressure within a steam condenser to substantlallyatmospherlc pressure, consisting of only two ejectors disposed in tan-Vdem, interl and after condensers for said ejectors, a common shell forsaid condensers, and means disposed at one end only of said shell forcarrying off the entire condensate produced in said inter and aftercondensers.

22. Apparatus for raising uncondensable elastic fluid from a pressurecorresponding to the pressure Within a steam condenser to substantiallyatmospheric pressure, consisting of only two ejectors disposed intandem, inter and after condensers for said ejectors, a common shell forsaid condensers, and means disposed at one end only of said shell forcarrying olf the entire condensate produced in said inter and aftercondensers, the

cooling surface of said after condenser being greater than the coolingsurface of said inter condenser. l

. 23. Apparatus for raising uncomlensahle elastic fluid from a pressurecorresponding to the pressure within a steam condenser to substantiallyatmospheric pressure, consisting of only two ejectors disposed intandem, inter and after condensers for said ejectois, a common shell forsaid condensers, and means for cooling said inter and after condensersby the same cooling medium.

24. Apparatus for raising uncondensable elastic fluid from apressurecorres ondmg to thc pressure within a. steam con( enser to substantlallyatmosphemc pressure, consisting of only two ejectors disposed in tandem,inter and after condensers for said ejectors, a common shell for saidcondensers, a condensate drain for the interstage condenser, and aseparate condensate drain for the after condenser.

2. Apparatus for raising uncondensable elastic fluid from a pressurecorresponding to the pressure within a steam condenser to substantiallyatmospheric pressure, consisting of only two ejectors disposed intandem, inter and after condensers for said ejectors, a common shell forsaid condensers, a condensate drain for the interstage condenser, aseparate condensate drain for the after condenser, and a dischargeoutlet from said after condenser independent of said second drain fordischarging the compressed uncondensed Huid to substantially atmosphericpressure.

2G. A combined condenser and ejector unit comprising a single condenserunit containing inter and after condensers, ejectors mounted upon saidcondenser unit, one of said ejectors discharging into saidintercondenser, a connection from said inter-condenser to the suction ofa second ot' said ej ectors, and saidsecond ejector discharging intosaid after condenser, and separate condensate draw-olfs for carryingaway the condensate from said inte-r and after condensers.

27. A combined condenser and ejector unit comprising a single condenserunit containing inter and after condensers, ejectors mounted upon saidcondenser unit, one of said ejectors discharging into saidintercondenscr, a connection from said interconde-nser to the suction ofa second of said ejectors7 said second ejector discharging into saidafter condenser, and means for drawing ofi the condensate from saidinter-condenser indcpendcni-ly of the condensate from said aftercondenser.

28. A con'ibined condenser and ejector unit comjnising a singlecondenser unit containing inter and after condensers, ejectors mountedupon said condenser unit', one of said ejectols discharging into .saidintercondenser, a connection from said inter-condenser to the suction ofa second ot said ejectors, said second ejector discharging into saidafter condenser, means for drawing otl` the condensate from saidinter-condenser independently of the condensate from said aftercondenser, and means for discharging the compressed elastic fluid fromsaid after condenser through an independent passage.

29. The combination with a condenser shell, of inter and aftercondensers therein, tube sheets forming end closures for said. shell, aplurality ofl groups ot tubes extending through said shell and throughsaid sheets, an end chest on said shell divided into compartments,ejectors connected in tandem with each other and with said inter andafter condensers through the compartments of said end chest, another endchest on said shell divided into independent .compartments, andinde-pendent condensate drawotfs communicating with said compartments.

30. The combination with a condenser shell, of inter and aftercondensers therein, each of said condensers comprising aplural.- ity oftubes extending through said shell,

chests on opposite ends of said shells having compartments communicatingwith said tubes and connecting them in tandem with each other, anejector discharging into the inter-condenser, a. second ejectorreceiving discharge from said inter-condenser and discharging into saidafter condenser, the condensate from all said tubes collecting in one ofsaid end chests 1remote from said ejector connections.

31. The combination with a condenser shell, of inter and aftercondensers therein, each of said condensers comprising a plurality oftubes extending through said shell, chests on opposite ends of saitshells having compartments communicating with said tubes and connectingthem in tandem with each other, an ejector discharging into theinter-condenser, a second ejector receiving discharge from saidintercondenser and discharging into said after condenser, thecondensatefrom all said tubes collecting in one ot said end chestsremote from said ejector connections, and independent. condensatedraw-offs communicating with dit'- ferent compartments ot' said lastnamed chest for conducting away the condensates of said inter and aftercondensers, respectively.

n testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature this 6th day ofMay, 1920.

ROBERT SUCZEK.

